NROT Dance Bands
The Jugbusters
Featuring an a cast of NRV stalwart musicians, including Bill Richardson on fiddle, Russ Boyd on banjo, Nicholas Polys and Liam Kelly on guitars, Bob Browder on mandolin and Chris Printz on upright bass. Steeped in tradition, but not imprisoned by it, the band plays a wide variety of unique dance tunes from classic country two-steps to the hard-driving fiddle tunes of the Blue Ridge, which you can hear on their 2004 CD release Live Radio Show. The Jugbusters are sure to please both the young and the young at heart. Hailing from Blacksburg, Virginia, The Jugbusters can be found igniting crowds at barn dances, bars, private parties and festivals across the central Appalachian mountains. You can learn more about The Jugbusters by logging on to their website at http://www.southernstringband.com/
Troublesome Creek, Charlottesville, VA area
The band features a cast of accomplished old-time musicians, including fiddler Rick Martin (who grew up on the banks of Troublesome Creek, Kentucky), guitar player and vocalist Dick Harrington, banjoist Judy Chaudet, and singer and bassist Lorie Lichtenwalner. Electrifying band chemistry unites the considerable talents of each member and breathes fresh energy into their repertoire, which ranges from the musical landscape of 19th century east Kentucky, to traditional ballads and gospel songs, to red-hot Blue Ridge breakdowns. Their first release, Fast As Time Can Take Me (County Records) has received wide critical acclaim. You can learn more about Troublesome Creek by logging on to their website at: http://www.troublesomecreekstringband.com/
The Pilot Mountain Bobcats
Featuring featuring Nancy Sluys on fiddle, Jacki Spector on fretless banjo, Allin Cottrell on guitar and Bill Sluys on bass. The Pilot Mountain Bobcats have been entertaining dancers and festival goers with their infectious brand of old time stringband music since 1989. Based in Surry County, North Carolina, the band has played for many events, including Augusta Dance Week and Old Time Week, Merlefest, Feet Retreat, Hometown Opry, L.E.A.F Festival, Blue Ridge Music Center, and many other festivals and dances. They have placed in the top five old time bands at Galax, Clifftop, Elk Creek, Fries and other fiddler's conventions. The Bobcats have also three recordings: The Pilot Mountain Bobcats, Dance by the Light of the Moon, and Lady of the Lake. You can check out more about the Pilot Mountain Bobcats at their web site: http://www.bobville@bobvillemusic.com
The Buffalo Creek Stringband from Stanley County, North Carolina
Buffalo Creek features ace fiddler, Jack Burgess, with Scott Dixon on the clawhammer banjo, Joy Moser on guitar and Annie Griffey on upright bass. They perform, with spirit and mountain soul, the timeless music of the southern Appalachians: old-time songs, fiddle tunes, and mountain ballads with a touch of early bluegrass and country music. Their fine 2007 CD is called Weary Woman Blues. You can learn more about Buffalo Creek at http://www.buffalocreekband.com/
The Reed Island Rounders, from Carroll County Virginia
The band features ace fiddler, Betty Vornbrock, Billy Cornette on guitar and Diane Jones on the banjo. The Rounders play a variety of music- from foot-stomping dance tunes to romantic waltzes, and beyond to the dark and lonesome mountain aires. Since 1993, they've performed at the Gainsborough, England Friends of Appalachian Old Time Music and Dance festival, at concerts and pubs across Ireland, and at the 2004 and 2005 Chicago Folk Festivals. Radio appearances include Back to the Blue Ridge, on WVTF Roanoke, Pittsburgh's Saturday Light Brigade on WYEP, WPAQ in Mount Airy, WBRF in Galax, and the internationally-syndicated WoodSongs Old Time Radio Hour via World Radio. The Rounders three CD's are: Wolves in the Wood, Goin' Back and Hand Me Downs. Check out more on the Rounders at http://www.reedisland.com/RIR/rounders.htm
The Carolina Catbirds- featuring Shay Garriock on fiddle, Brett Riggs on banjo, Gail Gillespie and Pan Riggs on guitars and Dwight Rogers on upright bass
Based in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC area, this well-blended, talented group of musicians have devoted more than 20 years to playing and performing old time music. They have placed among the top old time bands at numerous fiddlers conventions, including a first place win at the 2004 Shakori Hills Festival. The Carolina Catbirds present old time tunes derived from a myriad of sources, from vintage band recordings of the 20's and 30's to obscure fiddle tunes played by lesser known, rustic fiddlers of the south. They enjoy playing a diverse repertoire, ranging from hard-driving dance breakdowns, to rags, waltzes, popular songs, and obscure mountain ballads.
The Wild Turkeys
Featuring Cindy Cook on fiddle, Greg Galbreath on banjo, Jim Barnhill on guitar and Frances Little on upright bass. The Wild Turkeys are an award-winning old-time string band from Southwest Virginia. They play, traditional mountain music of the Southern Appalachians, and mix hard-driving fiddle & banjo tunes with some Carter Family ballads, and an assortment of waltzes and two-steps. Their CD has been featured on WVTF Public Radio's Back to the Blueridge and the Turkeys were honored to be included among the performers at the 2004 and 2005 Floyd World Music Festivals.
The Hushpuppies, from Greensboro and Chapel Hill, NC
The band features Jon Newlin on fiddle, Amy Davis on banjo, Molly Stouten on guitar and Steve Terrill on mandolin. All of the band members are both multi-instrumentalists and vocalists; and they love the classic southwestern Virginia string band music of the 20s and 30s, particularly from Ernest Stoneman, Eck Dunford and Fields Ward. Says Gail Gillespie, editor of The Old Time Herald, 'Though the Hushpuppies can rock out on a breakdown and match excitement and drive with any of the best contest-winning bands active today, they have a charming rakishness that is all their own.' They have performed at Merlefest and also played at dances, fiddlers conventions and concert venues all across North Carolina, including the Garage and Old Town Breakdown in Winston Salem, Weaver Street Market in Carrboro and City Stage in Greensboro. Radio appearances have included the Merry-Go-Round, on WPAQ in Mount Airy, NC. More details on The Hushpuppies are at their website http://www.old97wrecords.com/hushpuppies/index.html
The Virginia Creepers
Featuring Jerry Correll on fiddle, Marianne Kovatch on banjo and guitar, Ken Landreth on guitar and banjo, Tom Mylet on mandolin and Donna Correll on upright bass. The Creepers play old-time Southern dance music, getting inspiration from a variety of styles; from Blue Ridge string bands, to traditional bluegrass, with a healthy dose of the Ozarks thrown in for good measure. When Ken and Marianne switch instruments, the band takes on a bluegrass-edged old-time style reminiscent of that played by Otis Burris and the Mountain Ramblers of Galax. Although the Creepers are rooted in Blue Ridge Mountains of Grayson County Virginia, band members also hail from the Carolina Piedmont and the Allegheny Plateau of West Virginia. This convergence of musical experience has produced a premier old time dance band. Among other awards, the Creepers were voted the Grand Champion Old-Time Band at the 2003 Fiddler's Grove String Band Contest and the second place band in 2005.
The Blue Ridge Mountaineers, from Floyd, Carroll and Franklin Counties
The band features ace fiddler, Mac Traynham, Andy Buckman on the banjo, Seth Boyd on guitar, John Blount on the mandolin and Sharon Buckman on the upright bass. The Blue Ridge Mountaineers play old-time music that has deep roots in the music traditions of Virginia's southern Blue Ridge and they are proud to continue a heritage of sound that is distinct from that of other regions of America and the world. They have performed for many local dances, fiddlers' conventions, and festivals, including the Floyd World Music Festival. Radio appearances have included Back to the Blue Ridge, on WVTF Roanoke, VA. Mac's latest CD (2005) is I'm Going That Way, on the Copper Creek label.
The Full Nelsons
Featuring fiddler Scott Nelson, Ben Nelson on the banjo, Susan Miley Nelson on guitar, and Grey Nelson on the upright bass. Susan and Scott have been playing southern old-time music since the 1970's and their 20-something year-old sons, Ben and Grey, have been rocking along with them since the time when they were still in a baby back-pack. They perform a wide repertoire of tunes learned from the Blue Ridge- Round Peak tradition, from Wilson Douglas and the Hammons family of central West Virginia, and from eastern Kentucky sources such as John Salyer, Art Stamper and Clyde Davenport. The Full Nelsons have played at fiddlers' conventions, dances and festivals and especially love the energy of playing for dancers.
Uncle Henry's Favorites, from Albemarle County, Virginia
This fine old-time band has been performing at dances, fiddlers conventions and concerts since 1985 with a cast of great musicians, including Jim Childress on fiddle and guitar, Pete Vigour on fiddle and banjo, Ellen Vigour on mandolin and Mark Beall on upright bass. The band's CD recording Uncle Henry's Favorites has won rave reviews, and the band reached a national audience with an appearance on public radio's A Prairie Home Companion. More details on Uncle Henry's Favorites are at their website http://unclehenrysfavorites.com
The Dandytones
Featuring Jerry Correll on fiddle, Adam Hurt on banjo, Beth Hartness on guitar and Donna Correll on upright bass. Jerry and Donna are very active in the Grayson County, Virginia music scene and are members of The Wolfe Brothers stringband. They are prize-winning musicians featured on many recordings, including Jerry's soon to be released CD featuring favorite fiddle tunes and friends. Adam, an acclaimed clawhammer banjo player from Winston-Salem, NC, has twice won the prestigious banjo competition at the Appalachian String Band Music Festival in Clifftop, WV. Beth, a unique finger-style guitar player from Greensboro, NC, has been the guitarist for two first-place old-time bands at Clifftop. Beth and Adam also perform as a duet, The Ubiquitones, and can be heard on Adam's solo CD, Insight, and other recordings. The Dandytones play dance tunes from an extensive repertoire that ranges from traditional music of the Blue Ridge, Kentucky, the Ozarks, and beyond.
Katie and the Bubbatones from the Blacksburg and Christiansburg, Virginia.
The Bubbatones have played together for about 10 years. and feature Kathleen O'Connell on fiddle, Russ Boyd on banjo, John Hollandsworth on guitar, and Kathie Hollandsworth on upright bass. The Bubbatones enjoy playing at square and contra dances, private parties, fiddlers' conventions, and they are monthly regulars at the Floyd Country Store during the academic year. They have taken prizes both individually and as a band at many of the festivals in the area. Their varied repertoire draws strongly from southwest Virginia and western North Carolina musical roots and includes waltzes, two-steps, and hard-driving dance tunes, with occasional vocals. All the band members also play with other local and regional groups and enjoy playing a wide variety of traditional music. More on the Bubbatones at http://www.blueridgeautoharps.com/Bubbatones.html